Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City (Dramatised): BBC Radio 4 Drama

Kate Harper and Lydia Wilson star in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of Armistead Maupin's classic, groundbreaking novel Tales of the City. Set in 1976 in San Francisco, Tales of the City is the first of a sequence of novels about the unconventional tenants of 28 Barbary Lane, the domain of the eccentric, marijuana-growing landlady Anna Madrigal.

Tales of the City: Tales of the City, Book 1

For more than three decades Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City has blazed its own trail through popular culture...from a groundbreaking newspaper serial, to a classic novel, to a television event that entranced millions around the world. The first of six novels about the denizens of the mythic apartment house at 28 Barbary Lane, Tales of the City is both a sparkling comedy of manners and an indelible portrait of an era that changed forever the way we live.

Nancy J says:"Sparkling, Witty and Touching!"

Publisher's Summary

Kate Harper, Lydia Wilson and Nancy Crane star in this BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramatisation of the second novel in Armistead Maupin's acclaimed 'Tales of the City' series.

In this sequel to Tales of the City, landlady Anna Madrigal reveals her secrets to her second family - the tenants of her house, 28 Barbary Lane. But they are preparing to flee their cosy nest for adventures further afield.

Mona Ramsey embarks on a cross-country trip that takes her to a brothel which may hold a secret about her past.

Michael 'Mouse' Tolliver and Mary Ann Singleton go on a cruise where they meet up with lovers old and new.

Brian Hawkins becomes involved with a mysterious woman he spots from his window, and DeDe Halcyon Day gets acquainted with a new friend who helps her discover her true inner feelings.

Dramatised by Barbara Lavery, this is both a sparkling comedy of manners and a portrait of a free and easy era.

The adaption is mediocre and loses much of the magic of the books. Mrs Madrigal is characterised fairly well, but unfortunately Mary Ann sounds ridiculously weak and Beauchamp Day sounds like a caricature cartoon villain. Not a disaster so long as you've already read the books or seen the series but this wouldn't be a good introduction for a Barbary Lane novice

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